Kansas City voters want midterm candidates to tackle rising fuel, grocery costs head-on
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa covers Cass County in Missouri. He also covers agricultural topics. Share your story idea with Ryan.
Cost of living is a top concern for voters in Missouri's newly redrawn 4th Congressional District as the November midterm election draws closer.
From fuel prices to groceries, Kansas City residents are making clear what they want candidates to address before they head to the polls.
Jenell Watts, owner of J's Sweet Tea in Kansas City, said the cost of doing business is a daily reality she can't ignore.
"Affordability, food and groceries, gas, things like that really matter to us because we travel around to promote our business," Watts said. "We travel to different events around the city to do these events, so the cost of fuel can be quite expensive."
That concern is backed by federal data. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, energy prices rose 14.7% over the 12 months ending in July 2026, driven largely by a 24.6% increase in …